Chairwoman of VIRWC, Jeanette Hourani, said the march was not a fight for women’s rights.

“The purpose is to bring solidarity to women and to celebrate female international students who have the right to be here,” Ms Hourani said.

“We are drawing on the positive experiences of women in Australia.”

Addressing the throng of supporters outside Parliament House, Raman Bhullar, an international student from India, said she believed Melbourne was the “best place for women in terms of career, study and making a life”.

“There is a huge difference in the way women live in India. Many women are expected to stay in the house and do housework,” Ms Bhullar said.

“Coming here lets you see what you could have been missing out on if you had not come.”

In a true display of cultural diversity, part of the program included a riveting belly dance, as well as a Bollywood dance performance by former international student Amandeep Kaur.